Umbilical Cord Care
Until your baby's umbilical cord falls off, it is usually best to continue with the basic umbilical cord care that your pediatrician has recommended. { more info }Sponge Baths
You should likely continue with simple sponge baths until your baby's umbilical cord does fall off. Keep in mind that most babies only need a bath every few days.Stuffy Noses
Newborn babies often have stuffy noses or some sneezing. Although parents often blame it on a cold, it is more often caused by irritation from dry air, dust, or smoke. Babies can also sound stuffy if they have reflux and because they typically breath through their nose. No treatment is usually required for this common symptom, but some parents do treat their babies with saline nose drops and a bulb suctioner, or they use a humidifier. See your pediatrician if the congestion is interfering with sleep or feeding.Skin Care
A baby's skin needs much less care than most parents would imagine. In fact, most parents overdo it with soaps and baby lotions, which can lead to a heat rash and make many baby skin rashes worse, including baby acne. The average baby simply needs a small amount of a nonperfumed baby lotion applied to dry areas of her skin.Preventing Diaper Rashes
Although frustrating for parents, most children get at least one diaper rash, and many get them over and over. To help prevent diaper rashes, steps that sometimes help include:- frequent diaper changes
- using unscented wipes
- applying a diaper rash cream or thick ointment after each diaper change, like Aquaphor or a cream with zinc oxide
- letting your infant sometimes go without a diaper
- using warm water and a mild soap instead of wipes
- using a squirt bottle to clean without rubbing
- letting the diaper area fully dry before putting another diaper on
- changing brands of disposable diapers and/or baby wipes
